Chapter 1 - Introduction to Environment Management

Question 1

• Atmosphere

Answer 1

The layer of gases surrounding a planet or celestial body held in place by gravity.

Question 2

Major components

Answer 2

1. Nitrogen
2. Oxygen
3. Carbon dioxide
4. Argon
5. Water Vapour

Question 3

• Composition

Answer 3

The mixture of gases that make up the atmosphere.

Question 4

Layers of the air

Answer 4

• Stratosphere: The layer above the troposphere, extending from about 20-50 kilometers, containing the ozone layer that absorbs the majority of the Sun’s ultraviolet radiation.
• Mesosphere: The layer above the stratosphere, extending from about 50-85 kilometers, characterized by decreasing temperatures with altitude.
• Thermosphere: The layer above the mesosphere, extending from about 85 kilometers to the edge of space, with increasing temperatures due to the absorption of high-energy solar radiation.
• Exosphere: The outermost layer of the atmosphere, merging with the vacuum of space, where atoms and molecules escape into space.
• Air: The mixture of gases primarily composed of nitrogen (78%), oxygen (21%), and traces of other gases such as argon, carbon dioxide, and water vapor.

Question 5

• Ozone Layer

Answer 5

OA region within the stratosphere containing a high concentration of ozone (O3) molecules that absorb most of the Sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Role of Ozone layer in absorbing ultraviolet radition.

• The ozone layer absorbs 97% to 99% of the sun’s incoming ultraviolet radiation (UV-B) preventing it from reaching the planet’s surface.
• Protects life on Earth’s surface from exposure to harmful levels of this radiation, which can damage penetrate organisms’ protective layers, like skin and damage DNA molecules in plants and animals.

Question 6

Greenhouse Effect

Answer 6

The process by which certain gases, such as carbon dioxide and water vapor, trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, leading to a warming effect.

• Ultraviolet radiation is shortwave radition with passes through the Earth’s atmosphere and is absorbed by Earth’s surface
• Some energy is re-emitted back into the atmosphere as infrared radiation (longwave radiation)
• greenhouse gases absorb some of this infrared radiation and prevent iit from leaving the atmosphere.

Question 7

• Air Pressure
• • Atmospheric Pressure

Answer 7

The force exerted by the atmosphere on a given area.

The pressure exerted by the atmosphere at a particular point, which decreases with increasing altitude.

Question 8

Composition of the Atmosphere:

Answer 8

The mixture of gases that make up the atmosphere.
- Nitrogen (N2): The most abundant gas in the Earth’s atmosphere, making up approximately 78% of its composition.
- Oxygen (O2): The second most abundant gas in the atmosphere, constituting about 21% of its composition.
- Argon (Ar): A minor gas, comprising around 0.93% of the atmosphere.
- Carbon Dioxide (CO2): A trace gas, present in small quantities (around 0.04%), but plays a crucial role in the greenhouse effect.
- Other Trace Gases: Including neon (Ne), helium (He), methane (CH4), ozone (O3), water vapor (H2O), and others.

Question 9

Weather and Climate

Answer 9

Weather: The state of the atmosphere at a particular place and time.
- Includes temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind speed and direction, and atmospheric pressure.
Climate: The long-term average weather conditions of a region.
- Factors include temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind patterns, and other atmospheric conditions.

Question 10

Water Cycle

Answer 10

1. Water Cycle: The continuous movement of water on, above, and below the Earth’s surface.
2. Evaporation: The process by which water changes from a liquid state to a gaseous state (water vapor) due to heat energy from the Sun.
3. Transpiration: The process by which plants release water vapor into the atmosphere through their leaves.
4. Condensation: The process by which water vapor cools and changes back into a liquid state, forming water droplets or ice crystals.
5. Cloud Formation: Condensed water vapor forms tiny droplets or ice crystals around particles in the air, creating clouds.
6. Precipitation: Water in the atmosphere falls back to the Earth’s surface in various forms:
   
   • Rain: Liquid water droplets that fall from clouds.
   • Snow: Ice crystals that fall from clouds and reach the ground without melting.
   • Sleet: Frozen raindrops that partially melt and refreeze before reaching the ground.
   • Hail: Ice pellets formed in thunderstorms through the repeated freezing and melting of raindrops.
7. Runoff: When precipitation exceeds the Earth’s capacity to absorb it, water flows over the land surface, forming streams, rivers, and eventually reaching lakes or oceans.
8. Infiltration: The process by which water soaks into the ground, replenishing groundwater supplies.
9. Groundwater: Water stored underground in porous rocks and soil.
10. Sublimation: The process by which ice or snow directly changes into water vapor without melting into a liquid state.
11. Melting: The process by which solid ice changes into liquid water due to an increase in temperature.
12. Freezing: The process by which liquid water changes into solid ice due to a decrease in temperature.
13. Condensation Nuclei: Microscopic particles (such as dust, salt, or pollution) in the air around which water vapor condenses to form clouds.
14. Dew: Water droplets that form on cool surfaces, such as grass or windows, when the air is saturated with moisture.
15. Saturation: The point at which the air holds the maximum amount of water vapor it can contain at a given temperature.

Leaching - water soaks into the soil removing minerals, nutrients and reducing their ability to support plant life.

Question 11

. Global Water Cycle

Answer 11

The water cycle operates on a global scale, transferring water between oceans, land, and the atmosphere.

Question 12

Continents and Oceans

Answer 12

• Continents: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Oceania.
• Major Oceans: Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, Arctic Ocean, and Southern Ocean.

Question 13

Sustainability

Answer 13

• The ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
• Sustainable use of natural resources helps to preserve the environment and reduce pollution, protecting both human health and ecosystems
• If harmful processes are maintained with no change, it is likely that we will run out of fossil fuels, huge numbers of animal species will become extinct, and the atmosphere will be irreparably damaged.
• it helps ensure that future generations will access those resources. It also helps to protect the environment by avoiding pollution and waste.
• if we continue extracting these resources without regard for their effect on the environment, we may put ourselves at risk for damage to our health and that of future generations